BWW Reviews: BILLY, Union Theatre, June 1 2013

With music by "Bond Man"John Barry, lyrics by Oscar winner Don Black and a book by sitcom scriptwriting royalty, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, you wonder why it has taken so long for Billy (based on the novel by Keith Waterhouse - and there's another name) to return to the London stage. But it's back now, and the Union Theatre have another musical revival hit to pack in the punters.

To the eyes of a teen of today, Billy - with his job, his solid family background, no debts and three girlfriends to juggle - might be envied, but it's 1960 and the intergenerational conflict wasn't about money, it was about culture. Billy is not going to settle to be one of those "Happy To Be Ourselves" as the local Yorkshire folk sing on buses, buying groceries and going to work in offices and factories. He believes that "Some Of Us Belong To The Stars" and, when his scriptwriting receives the tiniest encouragement in a letter from a London TV personality, Billy plans to leave his fantasy worlds behind and head for The Smoke. But leaving the life he loathed to pursue the stars, turns out to be less straightforward than even his imagination foretold.

Stereotypes are the coin of comedy and there's plenty on show in this show - so it's incumbent on the actors to bring out the person behind the cookie-cutter personality. Director Michael Strassen is well served by plenty of Union Theatre favourites and some new faces. Mark Carroll and Ricky Butt break off from bemoaning their feckless son to recall the delights of parenthood - fleeting though they are - in "Remembering". Mark Turnbull's no-nonsense councillor poignantly reflects on post-war urban development in "It Were All Green Hills", with its lament for the advent of the multi-storey car park. And Billy's three girlfriends deliver their setpiece songs with lovely voices, as homely Barbara (Rosie Clarkson), brassy Rita (Laura Bryars) and wannabe Chelsea Girl Liz (Katerina Stearman) vie for Billy's attention.

As Billy, Keith Ramsay balances the desire to rebel with the fear of its consequences in a lovely performance that brings charm and warmth to a character who might look selfish and weak to 21st century eyes. Backed by Richard Bates' band - and isn't it wonderful to hear the music played live - Ramsay sings well, but might need to work on projecting his voice to the whole audience when moving from one side of the stage to the other. It's a hugely demanding part and its delivered with some panache by the young man.

The dream of escape to a better life, whether it be somewhere over the rainbow or somewhere over in Raynes Park, beguiles all those with imaginations to see that the grass may indeed be greener on the other side. This bittersweet tale captures that hankering and, with plenty of laughs and songs, shows that it's a feeling that's as much a part of 2013 as it was of 1960.

Billy continues at the Union Theatre until 29 June.

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